On Tracking Angle! Sonic Youth - Diamond Seas

Sonic Youth put out the most original and terrifying release on the RSD 2026 list, and I've reviewed it for Tracking Angle diamond seas

"Liking Sonic Youth is no longer 'cool.' Their sound has been so thoroughly absorbed by the mainstream that nothing feels cutting-edge anymore. Factor in that both the fans and the band themselves have earned the reputation of being pretentious a-holes (how could anyone be mean to Nardwuar?) Save for Kim Gordon’s trap album from a couple years ago, the collective’s patience with the Youth has run out. But as Dylan said, 'When you’ve got nothin’/You’ve got nothin’ to lose.' When a band realizes any previous bar cannot be met again, be it artistic, critical, or commercial success, things have the potential to get all the more exciting – and much weirder."

If anything, we can count on Sonic Youth to put out an interesting and original Record Store Day exclusive. This year, the Youth teamed up with John Oswald (Grayfolded) for a challenging and fascinating equivalent to storied Grateful Dead assemblages. sonic youth diamond seas

Read my review of Sonic Youth and John Oswald's Diamond Seas now, on Tracking Angle

(and read my other Sonic Youth and Grateful Dead reviews here!)